Friday, April 25, 2014

PANAMA CITY, Fla. -- Despite an increase in traffic as spring break kicked off last month, Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP) failed to increase passenger traffic year-over-year in March. The airport in West Bay, northwest of Panama City, saw a nearly 10 percent decrease in passengers, falling from 171,741 in March 2013 to 155,161 this year. ECP's market share also dropped. It held a 19 percent market share between January and March, falling behind both Tallahassee Regional Airport and Northwest Florida Regional Airport in Fort Walton Beach, which held 21 and 20 percent, respectively. Pensacola currently holds 40 percent of the market. By comparison, ECP held 22 percent of the market between January and September of 2013, Tallahassee had 19, Fort Walton 20 and Pensacola 40 percent. Executive Director Parker McClellan said some of the decrease could be linked to special introductory fares for Southwest Airlines flights out of Pensacola International Airport when the airline launched service in that city. (Source: Panama City News Herald, 04/23/14) Previous: Southwest adjusts flights; Crosswind runway delayed; Airport celebrates Southwest